DGCA Orders Special Audit of VSR Ventures in Ajit Pawar Crash Probe
The DGCA orders a special audit of VSR Ventures' check logbooks for maintenance after the Ajit Pawar Learjet crash report due February 15.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a special audit of VSR Ventures, the private jet company that operated the Learjet 45 XR carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a tragic crash along with four others.
The aircraft went down during a second landing attempt from Mumbai to Baramati amid poor visibility, killing Pawar, pilot Sumit Kapur, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, Pawar’s personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
The DGCA’s audit, expected by February 15, will examine logbooks, maintenance checks, and operational protocols to ensure the company complied with aviation safety standards. Separately, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the circumstances that led to the crash.
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VSR Ventures had previously faced scrutiny from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The EU regulator had suspended and eventually revoked the company’s Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization after VSR failed to respond to queries regarding a September 14, 2023, Learjet 45XR accident in Mumbai.
The 2023 crash involved a Learjet 45XR attempting a landing amid heavy rain and poor visibility at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The aircraft, operating a non-scheduled passenger flight, carried six passengers. While the takeoff and flight from Visakhapatnam were uneventful, the landing attempt ended in tragedy.
Based in New Delhi, VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd operates private jet charters, medical evacuations, and aviation consultancy services. The Learjet 45XR that crashed was developed in the 1990s as a competitor to the Cessna Citation Excel in the super-light business jet category.
The DGCA audit will assess whether VSR Ventures maintained proper safety oversight and adherence to international protocols, following a string of incidents that have raised questions about the company’s operations.
Also Read: What Caused Ajit Pawar's Fatal Learjet Crash Near Baramati Airport?
